Dang Dinh Duy: From buffalo herder to famed sculptor and art restorer
![]() |
Dang Dinh Duy was born 42 years ago to a family steeped in the tradition of making art reliefs. He was inspired by his grandfather Nguyen Duy Ma, who was a famous artisan in the old Kinh Bac region.
Inheriting skills from both his father and grandfather, Duy showed an aptitude for making statues and art reliefs at a very young age. Every day, while tending buffaloes with his friends in the field, Duy used to make clay statues of animal figures such as lions, tigers, and dragons.
When his mother and grandmother took him to pagodas at a later age, he developed a passion for the Buddha or Bodhisattva statues he saw there. Although Duy had not yet learned to make clay statues, his simple AAt the age of 12, Duy’s father took him to learn the family’s traditional craft. In the morning, Duy went to school, and in the afternoon, he followed his father to learn how to make patterns, or mascots in pagodas and temples.
With an aptitude and passion for the craft, Duy soon mastered the art relief craft. After studying with his father for 10 years and more than 15 years of vocational courses in sculpture, Dang Dinh Duy has earned a reputation for his artistry and business acumen in Bac Ninh Province and beyond. He is highly appreciated by experts for his sculpture techniques in restoring cultural works.
The artisan said that in order to properly restore spiritual and cultural works, skilled workers must be knowledgeable about historical and cultural characteristics of different periods in different regions. They must highlight the spiritual features of the works, respect their sacredness and sense pride in their national beauty.
In addition to individual achievements, Duy has taught his craft to pupils in Bac Ninh and neighboring provinces, training hundreds of workers, many of whom have opened their own business. His company Duy Linh Mend Embellished and Construction Company Limited was established in 2012 and has since experienced strong development and created regular jobs for over 200 workers with an average monthly salary of more than VND10 million.
In addition, artisan Duy participates in charitable and humanitarian activities such as donating to the poor, the construction of gratitude houses and a number of temples and pagodas. In 2017, his company spent VND3 billion from its revenue, and the wages and voluntary contributions of the employees on charitable activities.
For artisan Dang Dinh Duy, renovating cultural and spiritual works is not just a source of income. “Besides sleeping time, I am devoted to work which is my passion. I am engrossed in my work all day long, and never feel bored,” he said.
In recognition of his contribution, numerous titles have been conferred on artisan Dang Dinh Duy, including the Golden Hand by the Vietnam Association of Craft Villages in 2011; the Vietnam Craft Village Artist in 2012; and the “Sculpture, renovating spiritual cultural works” Artist in 2013. He was also awarded the Certificate of Merit for outstanding achievements in the period of 1997-2017 by the chair of the Bac Ninh provincial People’s Committee, as well as other merit awards. |
See also

Agriculture sector to use AI to maximise production
10:42 | 24/03/2023 Society

Việt Nam strives to eliminate malaria once and for all
09:16 | 23/03/2023 Society

Transport infrastructure fund needed to enhance Southeast regional linkages
09:52 | 21/03/2023 Society

Hà Nội to build new bridge crossing Red River
07:00 | 19/03/2023 Metropolis

Hoa Binh, sustainable investment destination
13:00 | 16/03/2023 Province

Singapore-Vietnam project benefits more than 2,500 renal patients
14:50 | 14/03/2023 Metropolis
See more news

Amway Vietnam highlights consumer protection
10:31 | 14/03/2023 Society

Hanoi to speed up public investment
06:00 | 14/03/2023 Metropolis

Hanoi economy presents mixed picture
13:00 | 12/03/2023 Metropolis

Vietnam working to expand eco-industrial parks
10:00 | 11/03/2023 Society

HCM City removes hindrances to work permit issuance for foreigners
15:06 | 09/03/2023 Society

International cooperation key to addressing urbanisation challenges: deputy minister
07:00 | 09/03/2023 Society

Promoting educational cooperation between Vietnam and Australia
15:00 | 08/03/2023 Society

Women’s rights among top 10 global consumer trends in 2023
14:31 | 07/03/2023 Society

Hanoi to introduce electronic ticketing for public transport in 2024
09:48 | 06/03/2023 Metropolis

Railway, seaport networks need to be arteries of economy: Deputy PM
07:00 | 04/03/2023 Society

Vietnamese noodles clear EU safety hurdle
15:09 | 25/03/2023 Foreign trade

The value of wood scraps for business
13:00 | 25/03/2023 Environment

Bac Giang develops rural industrial exports
07:00 | 25/03/2023 Industry promotion

Ha Long Bay, Cu Chi Tunnels among ten adventurous tourism places in Southeast Asia
07:00 | 25/03/2023 Infographic

Vietnam adopts high integration standards
06:00 | 25/03/2023 Companies
Multimedia

Ha Long Bay, Cu Chi Tunnels among ten adventurous tourism places in Southeast Asia
07:00 | 25/03/2023 Infographic

Vietnam-Italy trade partnership
13:00 | 23/03/2023 Infographic

Renowned Vietnamese artists collaborate on unique porcelain artworks
06:00 | 23/03/2023 Lifestyle

Vietnamese culture and silk are topics of event dedicated to women
06:00 | 25/03/2023 Lifestyle

The first Vietnamese bread festival
06:00 | 25/03/2023 Entertainment

New legal documents in first half of March 2023
06:00 | 23/03/2023 Policy

Animal feed industry asks for import tax reduction on raw materials
09:55 | 20/03/2023 Policy

Over 250 petitions submitted to authorities on fragility of petroleum regulations
18:07 | 16/03/2023 Policy

New legal documents in second half of February 2023
07:00 | 12/03/2023 Policy

Bac Giang develops rural industrial exports
07:00 | 25/03/2023 Industry promotion

Ocean dialogue dicusses offshore renewable energy potential
09:53 | 24/03/2023 Energy

Vietnam Manufacturing Expo & NEPCON Vietnam exhibition 2023 kick off
16:41 | 22/03/2023 Support industries

Offshore wind energy an essential base load power source: official
14:30 | 20/03/2023 Energy

India introduces pharmaceutical industry' opportunities to potential Vietnamese investors
19:54 | 23/03/2023 Vietnam and other regions

Vietnam attracts Czech investors
06:00 | 23/03/2023 FDI

US businesses exploring investment, business opportunities in Vietnam
10:01 | 21/03/2023 FDI

Da Nang hopes for further investment from RoK city
09:13 | 17/03/2023 FDI

Vietnam to develop policies to adapt to global minimum tax
07:05 | 23/03/2023 Finance-Banking

Vietnam seeks response to corporate tax overhaul
06:00 | 20/03/2023 Finance-Banking

Vietnam’s regulatory interest rates to be reduced by 0.5-1 percent
07:05 | 16/03/2023 Finance-Banking

Global Minimum Tax a head-scratcher for Vietnamese policymakers
06:00 | 13/03/2023 Finance-Banking

The value of wood scraps for business
13:00 | 25/03/2023 Environment

New river trash capture tool launched in Nam Dinh Province
15:00 | 23/03/2023 Environment

Việt Nam carries out measures for healthy forests
10:30 | 22/03/2023 Environment

COP28 President-Designate to co-chair Copenhagen climate ministerial meeting
09:46 | 22/03/2023 Environment

Vietnam, Thailand beef up sci-tech, educational collaboration
06:00 | 25/03/2023 Science - Technology

Science, technology, innovation promoted to support national development
06:00 | 22/03/2023 Science - Technology

Vietnam introduces automated sorting system
13:00 | 20/03/2023 Make in Vietnam

Domestic ICT firms well-positioned to reach out to the world
06:00 | 20/03/2023 Science - Technology

Agriculture sector to use AI to maximise production
10:42 | 24/03/2023 Society

Việt Nam strives to eliminate malaria once and for all
09:16 | 23/03/2023 Society

Transport infrastructure fund needed to enhance Southeast regional linkages
09:52 | 21/03/2023 Society

Hà Nội to build new bridge crossing Red River
07:00 | 19/03/2023 Metropolis

Vietnam adopts high integration standards
06:00 | 25/03/2023 Companies

Bac Giang promotes consumption of OCOP products associated with tourism
10:02 | 24/03/2023 Vietnamese Brands

Bamboo Airways to launch Viet Nam’s longest domestic air route from April
14:53 | 22/03/2023 Vietnamese Brands

King Coffee and Tín Thành Group partner to build a tyre plant in the US
10:20 | 20/03/2023 Vietnamese Brands

Vietnamese culture and silk are topics of event dedicated to women
06:00 | 25/03/2023 Lifestyle

Renowned Vietnamese artists collaborate on unique porcelain artworks
06:00 | 23/03/2023 Lifestyle

Việt Nam's grilled bananas among world’s most delicious desserts
06:00 | 20/03/2023 Lifestyle

A dish to try beef-ore you go, Buôn Ma Thuột's famous beef in tamarind sauce
06:00 | 18/03/2023 Lifestyle

Ha Long Bay, Cu Chi Tunnels among ten adventurous tourism places in Southeast Asia
07:00 | 25/03/2023 Infographic

Small stools, big charm balancing Hà Nội's iconic appeal with pedestrian safety
06:00 | 25/03/2023 Tourism

Japanese man gives his love to Hà Giang
06:00 | 23/03/2023 Tourism

Visa exemption means int'l tourists can visit Phu Quoc for up to 30 days
16:32 | 22/03/2023 Tourism